Centrifugal pump



May 13, 1924. y 1,493,509

D. s. WILLEY CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed Jan. 28.1922

170m ZfcZZ PatentedMay 13, 1924,

DON S. WILLEY, 0F. GHICAG, ILLINOIS.

CENTRIF'UGAL PUMP.

Application led January 28,v 1922. Serial No. 532,472.

-to provide an improved pump of the character described and a newmethod of operating the same, whereby the pump may be primed when starting its operation and may be maintained in operative condition and free from clogging by sand or the like during temporary periods of inoperation.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, il-

lustrating one embodiment of my invention,

in which: A

Fig. 1 is a view of a centrifugal pump, constructed in accordance with my invention and installed in a mine, A

Fig. 2 is an enlargedview in cross section of the foot valve forming apart of the centrifugal pump shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section of la. modified form of foot valve, illustrating another application 'of my invention. j

Centrifugal pumps are often used for pumping duid in which a large amount of sediment such as sand is held in suspension, but when pumping is discontinued for a short period, the matter held in suspension tends toprecipitate and often clogseither the pump itself, or the foot valve throu h which the fluid is drawn, so asgto render t e pump useless until cleaned. This -is particularly objectionable when such a pump is used at a considerable depth, as in mines, caissons, or under similar cond1t1ons, where cleaning the pump entails considerable labor, together with a loss in time. f

In the drawing, one form of centrifugal pump, used in mines or the like, is shown to illustrate my invention. This pump comprises a cage 10, carrying a centrifugal pump 11 of any approved design mounted to rotate on a vertical axis, and having operative connection withan electriclmotor 12.

The cage -10 is adapted to be lowered into the mine by any suitable suspension means such as a cable 13 and reel 14 mounted on a support 15. Handles 16, .16 or the1r equivalents may be used for operating said reel. The pump 11 is provided with an axially disposed, downwardly extending inlet pipe 17 having a foot valve 18 at the lower end thereof. A discharge pipe 19 extends upwardly from the pump to the surface of the ground, "from where the discharged fluid may be distributed as' desired. The foot valve 18 consists in a check valve of any suitable construction, such'as a ball valve having a casing 2O provided with a plurality -of inlets 21, 21 at its lower end for ingress of the Huid, a partition 22 having an orifice 23 therethrough, and a ball 24:y retained in a suitable cage 25 adapted to be seated over said orifice.

When .a pump of the type illustrated` is first lowered into `umping position, it is necessary to prime it, that is to say, the pump and intake tube 17, must be filled with uid before it will operate. After the pump is startedit will lift fluids. having a'heav'y contentrof solid matter, such as` sand, ,as long as it is operated continuously. .l It is often desirable, however, to discontinue pumping 'for various periods of time without raising the pump from the mine, and when this is done, it will .be seenthat the sand, sediment, etc., normally held in suspension in the fluid, tends to settle. 7lfhe solid matter in the discharge tube 19, wlll settle into the pump llland that in the intake pipe 1-7 will settle into the check valve 18, and after a short time, either or both, are choked or clogged so as to render the pump useless un-v til the pump is cleared. j

In order to overcome the objectionable feature just described, I provide an auxiliary fluid pipe 30, connected to the foot valve 18and communicating with a series ofjets or orifices 31, 31 adjacent the seat of the ball check-24, and directed inwardly and'upwardly toward said ball, as shown. lAny number of such jets 31, 31 may be provided. In the preferred form illustrated, two jetsl are shown arranged oppositel to each other, and connected b an annu ar passage 32 formed. in the parution 22 of the valve casing. A

,The fluid pipe130 is connected at its upper end to 'a means for supplyin pressure, such as a pump 34, or its equiva ent,..oper ated independently of the centrifugal pump 11, so as to supply a stream of fluidto the centrifugal pump when it is desired to prime the latter, and at all times that said centrifugal pump is not in operation. The fluid from the pipe 30 is injected at a point Where it Will ush the foot valve, and passes up through the inlet pipe 17, pump ll, and discharge pipe 19, so as to prime the pump, and thereafter, When pumping is temporarily discontinued, the l,sand Within the pump, is kept in constant agitation so as to e prevented from settling. The pump may thus be maintained in operative condition at all times, ready for immediate resumption of Work. Furthermore, in case of a slight leak in the foot val-ve, which might ordinarily allow sullicient liuid to escape so as to require priming, my improved attachment keeps the pump iilly primed and read?,r lor instant operation.

ln iig. 3, l have illustrated another tornaV of my invention, in which the auxiliary supply pipe 30 is attached to a foot valve i0 of the hinged type. ln this valve the intake orifice il is adapted to he closed by a hinged valve plate 42. The pipe 3G, adapted to conduct Huid under pressure, communicates With an inlet 43 directed toward the valve plate 42, as shown.

l-laving described my invention, l claim:

l. in a device of the class described, a motor, a centrifugal pump having a downn Wardly extending inlet pipe, and a discharge pipe, said pump affording .continuous ilovv of duid therethrough during periods o' inoperation thereof, a '.toot valve at the lovver end o said inlet pipe, comprising a casing having an inlet orifice, a check valve for Leeaaoa said orifice, a jet directed toward said check valve, an auxiliary fluid pipe connected.

with said jet, and means controlled independently of said pump motor for supply ling fluid under pressure to said fluid pipe.

2. In a.device of the class described, a motor, a centrifugal pump having a downwardly extending inlet pipe, and a discharge pipe, said pump aliording continuous flow of fluid therethroughduring periods of inoperation thereof, a foot valve at the lower end of said inlet pipe, comprising a casing having an inlet orifice, a check valve for said orifice, a jet directed toward said check valve into the chamber surrounding saidinlet valve and above said valve, an auxiliary fluid pipe connected with said jet, and means controlled independently ot' said pump motor for supplying luid under pressure to said fluid pipe.

3. The method of intermittently operat` v ing a centrifugal pump having a one Way in` DUN S. ll/llLLEY. 

